MOSCOW — Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea have fired four cruise missiles at the Islamic State group’s positions in Syria, the Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said in a statement that the Admiral Essen frigate and the Krasnodar submarine launched the missiles at ISIL targets in the area of the ancient city of Palmyra. Russia, a staunch Damascus ally, has been providing air cover to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s offensive on ISIL since 2015. Syrian troops backed by Russian airstrikes captured Palmyra in March last year and Moscow even flew in one of its best classical musicians to play a triumphant concert at Palmyra’s ancient theatre. ISIL forces, however, recaptured Palmyra eight months later, before Syrian government troops drove them out again in March this year.

Source: National Post May 31, 2017 16:18 UTC